Video: Building Brands, Building Categories – A Collaborative Effort Video: Building Brands, Building Categories – A Collaborative Effort

Video: Building Brands, Building Categories – A Collaborative Effort

by Ray Latif,

At BevNET Live Summer 2012, three beverage industry veterans who have had first-hand roles in establishing entrepreneurial beverage products discussed the roles and responsibilities of brand-building. The discussion featured a number of topics regarding the development of new brands and categories including an analysis of expectations for individual roles and key areas for collaboration between suppliers, distributors and retailers.

Review: Gorilla Cold Brew Coffee Review: Gorilla Cold Brew Coffee

Review: Gorilla Cold Brew Coffee

by BevNET.com Staff,

While calling cold brew coffee a category is probably premature, there are a growing number of cold brew coffee products coming to market.  The latest is Gorilla Cold Brew, which…

Rising Prices, Weaker Sales for Orange Juice Rising Prices, Weaker Sales for Orange Juice

Rising Prices, Weaker Sales for Orange Juice

by Ray Latif,

With a significant decline in consumption of concentrated orange juice, overall U.S. sales in the category tumbled 5.4 percent in volume and 0.6 percent in revenue in a year-over-year comparison for the four weeks ending on July 7, 2012, according to the Dow Jones. The sales data, compiled by Nielsen and published by the Florida Department of Citrus (FDC), also shows that orange juice prices rose by 5 percent versus the same period in 2011.

Coke to Reorganize Operating Structure Around Three Major Businesses Coke to Reorganize Operating Structure Around Three Major Businesses

Coke to Reorganize Operating Structure Around Three Major Businesses

by Ray Latif,

The Coca-Cola Co., Inc. announced today that it will streamline its operations around three major businesses in an effort “to better address the changing demands of the global marketplace.” The reshuffling of Coke’s operational structure will be effective on January 1, 2013.

Mamma Chia Goes Mainstream Mamma Chia Goes Mainstream

Mamma Chia Goes Mainstream

by Ray Latif,

Deep presence in the natural channel? Check. National distribution? Check. Chain authorization in mainstream retailers? Check. In less than two years, Mamma Chia has racked up an impressive set of wins and shows no signs of slowing down with the recent announcement that the company has gained distribution in 150 Ralph’s stores in Southern California. Ralph’s joins Giant Eagle, Fairway and Vons as mainstream grocers that now carry the organic chia drink.

BevNET Knows How to Pick a Winner – AriZona Goes with Cherry Lime Rickey for New Flavor BevNET Knows How to Pick a Winner – AriZona Goes with Cherry Lime Rickey for New Flavor

BevNET Knows How to Pick a Winner – AriZona Goes with Cherry Lime Rickey for New Flavor

by Ray Latif,

Following a three month campaign in which the company enlisted its Facebook fans and media professionals to help choose its newest flavor, AriZona announced today that Cherry Lime Rickey would join its formidable cadre of tea and juice drinks. BevNET’s own John Craven and Andrew Guard were two of the folks asked to help choose from three contending flavors, and we created a short video of their taste test back in April. It turns out that Craven and Guard know how to pick a winner...

Review: Voila! Juice Review: Voila! Juice

Review: Voila! Juice

by BevNET.com Staff,

Voila! Juice is a San Francisco Bay Area juice company that has been in the juice business since 1978.  Their product lineup includes many flavors,  ranging from orange juice to…

BevNET TV: A Visit with Todd Berardi of Hiball BevNET TV: A Visit with Todd Berardi of Hiball

BevNET TV: A Visit with Todd Berardi of Hiball

by Ray Latif,

As one of the first all-natural energy drinks on the market, Hiball has steadily carved a successful niche within the natural channel, one whose consumers have slowly adapted to the booming energy drink category. Yet, Hiball, now armed with new packaging and an revamped formulation, is looking beyond natural retailers, and has set its sights on a dramatic increase in distribution throughout mainstream channels.

Review: Rise Kombucha Review: Rise Kombucha

Review: Rise Kombucha

by BevNET.com Staff,

Rise Kombucha is a Canadian based entry into the raw kombucha category.  It can be found  Whole Foods in Canada, where the selection of kombucha isn’t quite what it is…

5-Hour Energy Plans Major Expansion, Launches $400 Million Note Offering 5-Hour Energy Plans Major Expansion, Launches $400 Million Note Offering

5-Hour Energy Plans Major Expansion, Launches $400 Million Note Offering

by Ray Latif,

Innovation Ventures LLC, the manufacturer of 5-Hour Energy, is planning a major expansion that includes broader sales and marketing initiatives, new product lines, export to international markets, and a third manufacturing and distribution facility, according to a recent article in Forbes. The company has created a new offering for $400 million in notes to fund the expansion of the 5-Hour Energy brand.

Pepsi To Sponsor 2013 Super Bowl Halftime Show Pepsi To Sponsor 2013 Super Bowl Halftime Show

Pepsi To Sponsor 2013 Super Bowl Halftime Show

by Ray Latif,

PepsiCo and the National Football League (NFL) announced today that Pepsi will be the sponsor of the 2013 Super Bowl Halftime Show and follows the renewal of a long-term agreement between PepsiCo and the NFL last year. Pepsi, which last sponsored the live event in 2007, will also have 60 seconds of advertising time during the game, one that attracted over 111 million viewers this year.

Review: Mr. Pink Energy Drink Review: Mr. Pink Energy Drink

Review: Mr. Pink Energy Drink

by BevNET.com Staff,

Mr. Pink is an energy drink whose most notable trait is its offbeat approach to its brand, which attempts to personify a color (at least when it comes to the…

Pitaya Plus Rolls into Ralph’s Pitaya Plus Rolls into Ralph’s

Pitaya Plus Rolls into Ralph’s

by Ray Latif,

Pitaya Plus has gained new distribution in over 100 Ralph's stores in Southern California. Ralph's is the first mainstream grocer to carry the all-natural pitaya (more commonly known as dragonfruit) drink, which is also distributed in hundreds of natural foods stores along the East and West coasts, including Whole Foods, Sprouts, and New Leaf.

Honest Tea’s Goldman: NYC Ban Sets Arbitrary Limits Honest Tea’s Goldman: NYC Ban Sets Arbitrary Limits

Honest Tea’s Goldman: NYC Ban Sets Arbitrary Limits

by Ray Latif,

Calling New York City's proposed ban on large containers of sugar sweetened drinks an "arbitrary" idea that "complicates the practical realities of commerce," Honest Tea founder Seth Goldman expressed frustration with Mayor Mike Bloomberg's plan in an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal today.